Dark Portrait of a 'Painter of Light'

latimes. ^ | March 5, 2006 | Kim Christensen

[tbird5]

Christian-themed artist Thomas Kinkade is accused of ruthless tactics and seamy personal conduct. He disputes the allegations.

Thomas Kinkade is famous for his luminous landscapes and street scenes, those dreamy, deliberately inspirational images he says have brought "God's light" into people's lives, even as they have made him one of America's most collected artists.

A devout Christian who calls himself the "Painter of Light," Kinkade trades heavily on his beliefs and says God has guided his brush — and his life — for the last 20 years.

"When I got saved, God became my art agent," he said in a 2004 video biography, genteel in tone and rich in the themes of faith and family values that have helped win him legions of fans, albeit few among art critics.

But some former Kinkade employees, gallery operators and others contend that the Painter of Light has a decidedly dark side.

[SuziQ]

Is there some sort of orchestrated vendetta agains Kinkade? This is the third or fourth story I've read in the last couple of weeks dissing him. Strange that they all show up about the same time, isn't it? Is someone trying to reduce the value of his artwork by doing this?

It just seems rather odd to me.

[Sam Cree]

Never knew that Kincade's stuff was meant as specifically "Christian" before. Somehow, that makes it all the more objectionable, he prostitutes Christianity as well as his art.

Not that the guy is without ability, but he surely isn't using it the way God intended.

Considering that the tradition of Western art has been so tied to Christianity, I suppose that Kincade would logically claim to be a part of the tradition, only to me, he's more a part of the tradition of the con men evangelists, Baker, etc.

[Conservative til I die]

Sounds like you're bitter about a bad investment.

[Muzzle_em]

LOL!!!

[bonfire]

I found this among my Mother's Christmas cards and snagged it. Up close it is so sweet and beautiful. btw, it's "Little Angel's", the second print down. Reminds me of my niece's twins who are about the same age.

http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.picturethisgallery.com/Artists/Hanks,%2520Steve/Little%2520Angels.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.picturethisgallery.com/steve_hanks.htm&h=577&w=341&sz=40&hl=en&start=110&tbnid=DOh8ZCBVX8YMHM:&tbnh=132&tbnw=78&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dsteve%2Bhanks%26start%3D100%26dnum%3D20%26svnum%3D10%26hl%3Den%26lr%3D%26safe%3Doff%26sa%3DN

[SlowBoat407]

My favorite comment about him came in a review of Lord of the Rings. The reviewer described the scene at Elrond's house as (and I'm paraphrasing) "Like a Thomas Kinkade painting, only good".

[TomSmedley]

Actually, he's a mormon rather than a Christian, isn't he? Of course, I guess the LA Slimes can't be expected to know the difference ...

[bonfire]

I didn't know he was a Mormon, but funny you'd say that as I was going to say that his paintings remind me of the Jesus pictures hanging in Mormon homes. Maybe he paints those too.

[ElTianti]

Another great American artist, Edward Hopper.

[SlowBoat407]

Can't say that I've ever been a fan of his, but it just shows that anyone that recognizes God in their life has painted a giant bullseye on their back and should expect the establishment press to place a knife there at the first opportunity.

In the case of Kinkade, the bullseye comes from the fact that he has used and abused the name of God to sell his oversized greeting cards to people who think "John 3:16" automatically conveys holiness to some paint or ink spread on a canvas.

He makes runs of 50,000 or more of his prints, then breaks them up and sells each group as a different type of "limited edition" print for exorbitant amounts. His salespeople push the "art as investment" line right to the legal edge, and in gratitude he turns around and dumps his leftovers on the market at prices below what he will allow his signature galleries to charge.

Never mind the quality of his work. His ethics are ugly.

[linda_22003]

And I wouldn't have a Kinkade as a gift. Isn't it nice that there is something for everyone to enjoy, out there?

[linda_22003]

I wonder if the "commentary" says what you think it does. I see a man who, by his dress and demeanor, is not someone you would expect to be interested in Jackson Pollock. But he is spending time with this painting, not hurrying by it - studying it, seeing what it might have to say to him.

[wireman]

The word "dreck" springs immediately to mind.

Anyone buying this stuff as "art" deserves to get screwed.

[SAMS]

I'm not an artist, but I'm with you. I was at one of his galleries in California about 10 years ago. I admit, I liked some of his paintings. My sister talked her husband into buying one of his original paintings...it looks OK. My problem with him is he has swamped the market with his stuff! It is on everything!! Go into any Hallmark store and his stuff is on note cards, candles you name it!

[Sam Cree]

I don't think he's a positive figure, Dan. His art is all about gimmicks and dishonesty. It does show ability, IMO, but not used as the Lord would have wished, also IMO.

Yes, it's predictable that the LA Times would go after a "Christian" artist, but in this case the artist provides a sitting duck type of target.

There must be plenty of honest Christian artists out there, just not using their Christianity as a sales tool.

[commish]

The sugar content of this one is so high, that it could cause cardiac arrest. Notice the plastic flower effect, and the plastic lighting of the flowers. The house is probably made out of chocolate chip cookies. Inside is some horrible florescent lighting of an electrician gone mad. One would need to wear sunglasses indoors. And then we have that Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe lantern, sans the snow. The "trees" in the background seems to be on steriods (they are huge baby, really huge), or otherwise made unnatural in perhaps the effects of nuclear fallout, which still suffuses the sky, which seems more ugly than on the smogiest day in Los Angeles.

Don't hold back now, tell us what you really think. ;-)

[dangus]

>> the artist quipped late one night as he urinated on a Winnie the Pooh figure <<

So he took a wee on Poo? That's just wrong. :^D

[CheneyChick]

I love that guy - whatever happened to his show on TV?

[kitkat]

I agree with your post #33. The LA Times makes it sound as though a profession of faith is illegal.